Homosexuality：Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

John Balzano and Alfredo B．Silva

1．What is homosexuality？

Homosexuality generally refers to a sexual orientation characterized by lasting aesthetic attraction，romantic love，and sexual desire exclusively for those of the same sex.It is usually contrasted with heterosexuality，sexual and romantic attraction to an individual of the opposite sex，and bisexuality，attraction to both sexes.The term“homosexuality”in truth has many competing definitions and connotations and has evolved in meaning over time in different places and cultures.Homosexuality now often describes more than just an individual’s sexual behavior；rather，it describes the feelings and relationships that make up a healthy and satisfying self-identity for homosexual people.

2．Is homosexuality a Western concept？

Homosexuality is not entirely a Western construct.While it is true that homosexuality as a concept referring to“exclusive”sexual orientation originated in Western medical literature over a century ago，relationships and attraction between people of the same sex have existed all over the world throughout nearly all periods of recorded history.Western history is replete with figures known to have had same-sex relationships，including Socrates，Edward II，Julius Caesar，Michelangelo，and Alexander the Great.Examples of same-sex love and relationships also appear throughout Japanese and Chinese history and ancient literature.Anthropologists studying same-sex relationships of Native American and African tribes have uncovered a tradition of same-sex marriages between males in those areas as well.

To call all of these people“homosexuals”，however，might be considered an inappropriate application of a modern construction of sexual identity to a time when there was no homosexuality-heterosexuality dichotomy.It was generally not until the last hundred years that people all over the world began to identify themselves as homosexual and view it more as an identity，with a surrounding culture，than as a type of behavior.

3．What is sexual orientation？

Sexual orientation refers to an individual’s natural sexual inclination.It is not the same thing as a“sexual preference”，which implies that there is a choice involved.Individuals generally fall in one of three categories in this respect.Homosexual individuals desire others of the same-sex.Heterosexuals are inclined towards members of the opposite sex.Bisexuals are inclined towards members of both the same and opposite sex.

4．Is transgender a sexual orientation？

No，transgender，sometimes also referred to as transsexual，is not a sexual orientation.Someone who is transgender does not necessarily have desires for the same sex.Transgender refers exclusively to one’s conception and expression of one’s own gender.For example，a man who changes his sex to female may continue to desire women.The term transgender includes those who undergo sex reassignment surgery（transsexuals）as well as those who express their gender in other ways，such as through dress（transvestites）.

5．How many gays are there in the world？

There is no concrete data on how many gays there are in the world. At one point，the Kinsey Institute for sexuality studies in the United States suggested that gays and lesbians make up ten percent of any given population.Studies conducted to determine the number of gays and lesbians in the United States and Great Britain have found different results depending on how the term“homosexuality”was defined.It is also very difficult to count the number of gays and lesbians in some places because they may not be open about their sexual orientation.A recent study by one organization based its numbers of the 2000 United States Census and voter registration information for elections.The organization found that gays and lesbians comprise approximately five percent of the United States population or around 10.5 million people.

It is generally known that homosexuals have existed throughout history in nearly every society.While some nations may deny the existence of gays and lesbians in their populations，most researchers believe that this is highly unlikely.

6．What is the difference between the terms LGBT，gay，lesbian，homosexual and queer？

The acronym LGBT refers to“Lesbian，Gay，Bisexual，and Transgender”.The term homosexual is a more technical term，and some believe that it carries negative connotations.For this reason，many prefer not to be called“homosexuals”.The word“gay”can sometimes be used to refer to only homosexual males，but it has also been used to refer more broadly to both homosexual men and women.The term“Lesbian”refers exclusively to homosexual women.The term“queer”has a broader meaning，including transgender and bisexual individuals，and is used to refer to both men and women.The term“queer”，however，may be insulting to some gays and lesbians.It is a term that has been and is still used in a derogatory manner.Despite this，some gays and lesbians now use the term as a symbol of pride in their sexual orientation.

7．How do you know you are gay？

Despite stereotypes and prejudices，there are no signs or mannerisms that easily identify a person as being gay.A gay man is not necessarily effeminate，and a lesbian does not necessarily display so-called masculine characteristics.They will not wear certain clothes or behave in certain ways.For these reasons，an individual’s sexual orientation is most often invisible to the general public.

A person is gay if he/she is sexually attracted to members of the same sex.However，it is often very difficult for people to address，identify，and categorize their sexual feelings.

Some may not know and acknowledge that they are gay even if they do find themselves sexually attracted to members of their sex.Many people begin to feel attraction to members of the same sex during adolescence，but may not identify as gay until years later.Often because of intense social pressure to be heterosexual，many people who have homosexual tendencies may not identify themselves as gay until after marriage，and many never do at all.

8．What is“coming out”？

“Coming out”is the process of identifying oneself as a gay man，lesbian，or bisexual.Besides telling others，either all at once or gradually，another significant part of coming out is an individual’s recognition of his or her own sexual orientation.“Coming out”can happen at any time，and many people do not come out until much later in life.It is，however，very important for gays and lesbians to come out because it helps them to accept their own identity and helps their friends and relatives to understand that gay men and women include those normal，happy，and healthy individuals that they associate with on a daily basis.“Coming out”can be a difficult process for an individual，and it is important that their friends and family provide support during that time.

9．Is homosexuality a disease？

No，homosexuality is no longer regularly considered a disease.The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the fourth edition Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.Most people in the United States do not view homosexuality as a disease at all any more，although they may have in the past.Other countries，such as the United Kingdom，and International organizations，such as the World Health Organization of the United Nations，have declassified homosexuality as a mental illness as well.

10．Is transgender a disease？

Transgender individuals are still considered to suffer from a mental condition known as“gender identity disorder”.This classification is listed in the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.Many doctors，scholars，and other activists would like to see the definition of gender identity disorder removed from the Manual because of the unnecessary stigma that it attaches to transgender individuals.

11．What causes homosexuality？

The cause of an individual’s is generally unknown.Although some believe homosexuality to be a choice，most believe it to be a product of an individual’s genetic makeup，upbringing and environmental influences，or some combination of the two.While there is more and stronger evidence that homosexuality is a genetic phenomenon，this evidence is not yet absolutely conclusive.Most people now understand that homosexuality is neither a contagious disease nor something that can be consciously taught to another person.However，many now agree that，regardless of whether homosexuality is a product of environment or genetics，homosexuals should be treated with dignity and respect and not subject to persecution or discrimination.

12．Can you choose to be gay？

No.One’s sexual orientation is not a conscious choice；one can not and does not choose to be gay any more than straight people can choose to be straight.People can，however，choose not to act on their sexual feelings or deny their sexual orientation.Still，it is difficult，if not impossible，for a gay person to have a happy，fulfilling life if he or she denies their true feelings.

13．Can therapy change homosexuality？

No.Most reputable medical and psychological associations，such as the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association，agree that homosexuality is not a disease or condition and，thus，that it can not and should not be treated or cured.However，there are religious groups and hospitals that do advocate“curing”homosexuality through counseling，prayer，and therapy.Some homosexuals seek out such organizations to help them become heterosexual.

Objective studies have shown that this treatment fails and may evenperpetuate serious problems.Those who undergo this treatment desire so much to be“normal”as a result of social or religious pressure that they ultimately repress their sexual desires，which can cause intense psychological damage，including anxiety，depression，and drug or alcohol addiction.Many so-called“ex-gays”often live celibate lives or struggle to make heterosexual marriages work.Others，who have undergone treatment，have returned to being gay and admitted that the treatment failed.

14．What is the relationship between gays and AIDS？

There is no scientific connection between homosexuals and the AIDS virus.At one time people believed that all gays had AIDS or that only gays could contract AIDS，because，in the early years of the disease，the gay community was struck so disproportionately hard by the virus that AIDS became known as“the gay disease”.Gradually people realized that straight men and women often contracted the disease as well，and doctors understood that the virus is transmitted by exchanges of certain bodily fluids，especially blood and semen.It is now universally acknowledged that the risk of exposure to HIV results from an individual’s behavior and not their sexual orientation.

Gays are neither the source nor the sole carriers of the AIDS virus. They are merely one group of the 40 million victims world-wide.Many of these victims face ostracism，discrimination，and violence from people who fear that they could become easily infected with the virus or from people who associate AIDS with certain social groups that they oppose. Casual contact，like touching or holding hands，breathing，and sharing restrooms can not spread the disease.The best ways to avoid the virus are not to share needles and practice safe-sex.Practicing safe-sex means using a new，clean condom every time.

15．Why do gays and lesbians flaunt their sexuality？

A person’s sexuality or sexual orientation is part of their identity. While not all gays and lesbians choose to“come out”or make their sexual orientation public，many do and choose to publicly exhibit pride in this part of their identity.They might do this by holding hands in public，marching in gay pride parades，or even simply talking about their partners or relationships.For gay men and women this is a way to avoid being perceived as heterosexual and to live an honest life.Everyone seeks to freely express themselves in some way，and most gay people do so without straight people ever noticing.Many gay men and women may also make their sexuality public to increase tolerance and awareness about gay issues.

16．Is homosexuality immoral？

Whether homosexuality is immoral will certainly depend on who one asks，but it is clear that in the last several decades more and more people believe that it is morally acceptable.Recent polls also show that there are significant differences of opinion on this issue between Americans depending on their age，location，political affiliation，and religious beliefs.Because attitudes have differed，it would be wrong to say that homosexuality has or is generally or always regarded as immoral.Many scholars and officials around the world have noted that views on the morality of homosexuality are changing for the better，much in the same way that the belief that interracial marriage was immoral changed markedly over the course of the 20th century.

17．Are all religions in the U．S．against homosexuality？

No.All religions are not against homosexuality and many religious people openly accept homosexuals.Many gays and lesbians are religious individuals and members of churches.Several churches in the United States have significant gay and lesbian populations and some of them also have gay and lesbian ministers.Congregations in the Methodist Church，the Anglican Church，the Unitarian Church，and the Lutheran Church，among others，have shown tolerance towards gays and lesbians.Some churches have，despite the government’s non-recognition of gay marriage in most places，begun to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. There is nothing inherently incompatible about homosexuality and religion.

Studies have shown，however，that religion is one of the major causes of intolerance towards homosexuals and that areas with a higher percentage of devoutly religious people tend to be more anti-gay.Some churches have had intense internal debates about allowing gay men and women to serve as ministers and the issue has even threatened to divide church leaders.

18．Is homosexuality or homosexual behavior a crime？

An increasing number of countries around the world have abolished laws that criminalize homosexual sexual conduct，and very few nations have ever criminalized the actual status of being homosexual.The earliest laws criminalizing homosexual sexual conduct come from Jewish and Christian religious texts.Consequently，many Christian and Muslim nations originally banned and，in some cases，still ban homosexual intercourse.For example，the Islamic Republic of Iran strictly forbids homosexual intercourse and executes men suspected of being gay.Other nations may punish homosexual behavior under more general statutes relating to morality or sexual behavior.

Many states，including the United States and China，have removed or no longer enforce their prohibitions against homosexual sexual conduct.The United States Supreme Court in the case Lawrence v.Texas recently explicitly prohibited local governments from criminalizing private，consensual，adult same-sex sexual behavior.A European Court made a similar statement in the case Dudgeon v.UK，and the a committee of the United Nations struck down a local law prohibiting homosexual behavior in the case Toonan v.Australia.

19．Why do gays need or want the right to marry？

Gays and lesbians need the right to marry because of the variety of benefits related to taxes，property，healthcare，and different types of insurance that come with marriage under the law.However，gays and lesbians want the right to marry because，as a group，they seek equal recognition of their long term relationships under the law.It is a question of equal treatment for homosexual and heterosexual people.

There are over 3.1 million gays and lesbians in long term relationships in the United States.Without the right to marry，gays and lesbians have had to face numerous hardships.Many have been denied permission to say goodbye to a dying partner in the hospital and lost access to inheritance and retirement benefits.In the United States，there are more than 1，100 federal benefits and protections that come with marriage that are categorically denied to gay couples，even those who have been together for over 40 years.

20．What is a civil union？

A civil union is one method of giving legal recognition and protection to the relationship of two people.This type of arrangement can vary from place to place，but usually involves some sort of rights vis-a-vis third parties and rights of the two partners vis-a-vis each other.These rights can include hospital visitation rights，inheritance rights，and rights to healthcare and pension benefits，among many others.Numerous countries around the world and states in the United States have employed civil unions as a technique to protect same-sex couples and avoid many of the significant injustices that can result when the law provides no protection for the long-term relationship of two people.

21．Is a civil union the same thing as a marriage？

While a civil union can provide essential legal protection for gays and lesbians，it is not the same thing as marriage.Even though a civil unionmight offer gay and lesbian couples similar benefits，marriage carries a status as an institution throughout world history that a civil union does not.To allow gays and lesbians to enter into civil unions or domestic partnerships，while restricting them from marriage is not“equal”in the sense that the word is usually used under the law.Some have argued that restricting gays and lesbians to civil unions would stigmatize their relationships as less important that heterosexual relationships.This factor was important to the Massachusetts Supreme Court in determining that a ban on gay marriage violated the equal protection clause of the Massachusetts Constitution.In order to maintain equality，it is important for both heterosexual and homosexual couples to be able to enter into marriages，civil unions，and domestic partnerships without sexual orientation-based restrictions.

22．Do gay parents make gay children？

Exposure to homosexuality at a young age does not mean that a child will become gay.

Also，studies have shown that the children of same-sex couples are not more likely to identify as gay later in life than children of heterosexual couples.Finally，despite some evidence for genetic causes of homosexuality，there is no evidence to suggest that the sexual orientation of biological parent will necessarily be passed down to the child.

23．Should gays be allowed to adopt children？

Many people all over the world believe that homosexuals can and should be allowed to adopt children.All of the countries in Europe，Canada，and some states in the United States permit homosexuals to adopt children，and there are millions of children throughout the world who are being raised by gay parents.Places that do not allow gay men and women to adopt will often allow them to become foster parents or temporary guardians of children before they are adopted by another family.

There are，however，many opponents of gay adoption.Some states have specifically prohibited gay men and women from adopting Childrenon the basis that it is better for children to be raised by a mother and a father.Studies have shown that there is little truth to this contention and that children raised by gay parents do just as well socially，developmentally，and academically as children raised by two heterosexual parents.Unfortunately，opponents of gay adoption often believe it would be better for children to remain in orphanages than with gay and lesbian parents.In some cases，gay and lesbian parents have actually had their children taken from them，an event which has had serious emotional consequences for the child.

24．Is protecting gays under the law giving them special protections？

No，anti-discrimination protections under the law for gays and lesbians do not amount to any special benefit.Although some argue that many gays and lesbians are not disadvantaged economically or socially，more advanced research and studies show that this is not true.Gay men and women often face irrational，and sometimes severe，prejudice from other members of society that impedes their ability to hold a job，form a family，and even obtain proper education and healthcare.As with other disadvantaged or vulnerable groups in society，sometimes it is necessary for certain laws to have specific protections for gays and lesbians.For example，employment discrimination laws in many states in the United States and countries in Europe prohibit employers from making any decision explicitly or implicitly on the basis of an individual’s sexual orientation.

One of the most important purposes of anti-discrimination law is to ensure that prejudice does not impermissibly disadvantage certain groups in society.By specifically protecting these groups under the law，policy makers seek to promote social harmony and also economic development. Many of the major anti-discrimination laws in the United States were enacted under Congress’s power to regulate interstate commerce.Thus，these laws are not seen as providing any unfair added benefit to minority groups，rather they are seen as necessary“corrective”measures to fight damaging prejudices in society.

25．Why should people care about gay issues？

There are two major reasons people should care about gay issues. First，because they are gay men and women all over the world，irrational prejudice against them can be extremely destructive to society.Prejudice prevents the gay men and women from using their talents in the workplace，the classroom，and the sports field，and it leads to ignorance about and the spread of destructive disease like the AIDS virus.Acknowledging gays and lesbians and understanding the issues they face is the best way to combat this irrational prejudice and promote harmony in society.

Second，whether they know it or not，nearly everyone knows and cares for someone gay.Recognizing that fact and accepting those people with an open mind can make a tremendous difference in that person’s life as they struggle with their own identity and the unfortunate prejudice from other sources.